Chapter 13 – The Questions He Already Knew
451 Words
Breakfast should’ve smelled like safety—toast, eggs, coffee. Instead, it felt like poison. Luna sat at the table, her spoon stirring her untouched oatmeal while Aunt Marjorie hummed to the radio.
Rick sat across from her, calm, smiling, a king at his throne.
“You were awake late last night,” he said casually, slicing into his eggs.
Her pulse skipped. She forced her spoon to keep moving. “I—couldn’t sleep.”
He nodded, chewing thoughtfully. “Strange. I didn’t hear the bed creak when you turned over. Usually, it does.”
Luna froze. He was watching her too closely. Measuring every breath.
Marjorie chuckled, oblivious. “Rick, don’t tease the girl. Everyone tosses and turns.”
But his eyes never left Luna. His smile didn’t reach them. “Right. Everyone does.”
---
After breakfast, Aunt Marjorie left for town. Rick offered to help Luna with chores, but it wasn’t an offer. He followed her into the laundry room, leaning against the wall as she folded sheets.
“You’ve been distant lately,” he said, voice soft, almost sad.
“I’ve just had a lot on my mind,” she replied quickly.
He tilted his head. “Not about me, I hope?”
Her throat dried. “No. Of course not.”
He stepped closer, so close she felt the heat of him. “Good. Because secrets don’t belong between us, Luna. I’d know if you were hiding something. I always know.”
Her hands tightened around the sheets. “I’m not hiding anything.”
Rick reached out, brushing a wrinkle from the fabric she held, his fingers grazing hers. “That’s exactly what Julia used to say.”
Her stomach lurched. “Julia?”
He smiled faintly, like he’d said too much but didn’t care. “She was stubborn. Thought she could keep little things from me. But in the end… I proved her wrong.”
Luna’s heart thudded painfully. She fought to keep her voice steady. “What happened to her?”
Rick leaned close, his breath warm against her ear. “She stopped trusting me. And when trust dies, love dies. I couldn’t let that happen.”
He pulled back, his smile sharp as glass. “You won’t make the same mistake, will you?”
Luna shook her head, forcing out the words. “No, Rick. I won’t.”
He kissed her forehead gently, like a blessing—or a claim. “Good girl.”
---
The sheets nearly fell from her hands as he walked away, whistling softly.
But inside, Luna was screaming.
Julia hadn’t run away.
Julia hadn’t disappeared.
Rick had made her disappear.
And if Luna wasn’t careful, she’d be next.
- Writer
